Flying-machine.



L. J. BROWN. FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION rum) IEB.5, 1906.

B ,B 5 c 1 C 11g, 4. I [NI ENTOR WITNESSES: v Lafayefis affirown Alibi mg LAFAYETTE J. BROWN, OF OAKLYN, NEW JERSEY.

sums-mamma- To all whom it'may concern-.-

Beit known that I, LAFAYETTE J. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at' Oaklyn, county of Camden, and State of New Jersey, have invented a'certain new and useful Improvement in Flyin -Machines, of

which the following is a speei .ation.

I the frame.

My invention relates to afnew and useful improvement in flying machines of the class known as aero lanes, and has for its object. to utilize mec 'anical propellers for lifting the machine in the air and for using the surfaces of these propellers as aeroplanes for sailing in any direction.

\Vith these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to.

which this invention appcrtams may understand how to make-and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by letterto the accompanying drawing formmg a part of this specification, 111 which- Figure 1 1s a side elevation made in accordance with, my improvement. Fig. 2, an end view thereof. Fig. 3, a plan view of one of the propellers. Fig. 4, a cross section of one of these propellers.

In carrying out my invention as here em bodied, I provide a frame A which may be of any suitable construction, and 'ournal in each end thereof one of the propellers B, the axis of these wheels being at right angles to Each of the ropell'er wheels consist of an inner rim C w ich is secured to its elongated hub B" bv means of the tangential suspension spokes B The inner rim C is connected with an outer rim B by the propeller blades B and these blades are set at a very slight angle so that when the wheels are in action they must revolve at a very high rate of speed to effect the desired result, namely, liftmgthe weight of the machine and its occupant upward into the air,

and when the wheels are not revolving they then serve as aeroplanes, and-on account of the small angle at which the propeller blades are set are well adapted for this purpose.

In practice, I preferto cover thecentral portion of the propeller wheels with air or gas tight silk B or other material so as to avoid the spokes churning the air, and at the same time serve as parachutes or resistance I Specificationp! Letters Patent. Application filed February '6, 1996. Serial No. 299 ,402.

I stage of rotation the wheels may sailing repeated in any direction Patented Jul 6,1909

surfaces for permitting the gradual lowering of the machme when it is desired to light.

C represents a pulley which is secured to each of the propeller wheels B, and these pulleys are connected by the'endless' belt D to the drive pulley E, so that when the latter is revolvedthe 'ropel'ler wheelsB will also be revolved. 1e drive pulley E is secured upon the shaft F, the latter having secured upon its opposite endthe p ley G which is connectedby the belt H to the motor I.

J represents the hanging frame" the motor is secured, and this frame may be so designed so to readily accommodate an occupant, said occupant sitting upon the crossbar J, and it is to be noted that the frame J is suspended from the frame upon the axis of the shaft F,the object being to permit the swinging of the frame A relative to the frame J without interfering with the transmission of power through the belts and pulleys to the propeller wheels. In order that this swinging movement of the frame A may be readily accor?lished by the occu ant, a cord or cable is attached to the front end of the frame A, the lower end thereof being coiled upon having a crank handle in eas operator, and a similar cord to the rear end of the frame A and is coded upon the reel L which is also provided with a crank handle within easy reach of the operator.

M is a rudderwhich is hinged to the rear end of the frame A and may e operated lzy an suitable-mechanism.

n practice it is only reach of the necessary for the operator to start the motor to utthe ropeller wheels B in operation, an when t ese propeller wheels have reached a suflicient machine will moveupward, and when reaching a sufficient heig t for the purpose the rotation of the prope ler be stopped and the frame A ad- 'usted to such an angle relative to the frame as to cause the machine to sail down and gradually incline the surfaces of the propeller wheels, serving as aeroplanes for this urpose.- When the machine has reache an elevation below which it would not be safe to go, the frame A is again adjusted at rwht angles to the frame J and the rope er wheels put in motion when the mac e will again rise up in the air, and the o eration of etermined to which the reel L, the latter is attached by the adjustment of the rudder and the angle of the frame A.

In aeroplane navigation it often happens that the changes of the upper air currents necessitate a positive force to give the operator control of the machine, and when such an occasion arises the result is had by setting the frame A at the proper angle and revolving the propeller wheels, which will then not only cause an upward or sustaining movement-of the machine but will also cause a forward progressive movement thereof, which will be in proportion of the angle at which the frame A'is set.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and useful, is

1. In a machine of the type set forth, a frame adapted to have normal horizontal disposition, combined pro ellers and aeroplanes journaled in said rame each composed of a hub, an annular rim surrounding said hub, spokes connected to said rim and to said hub, a second annular rim of considerably greater diameter than the first named rim surrounding the latter and arranged concentric thereto, flat blades connected to said rims and disposed in said space therebetween, an air and gas tight fabric covering inclosing the hub ends, and extending around said first named rim on opposite sides thereof so as to inclose the periphery of said first rim and said spokes which connect said first rim and hub, and means connected to the hub to rotate same. I

2. In a machine of the type set forth, a frame adapted to have normal horizontal dis osition, a horizontal propeller at each end of said frame, a pulley secured to each of said ropellers, a transverse shaft carried by saic frame midway between said propellers, a drive pulley on said shaft, an endess belt engaging each of said propeller ulleys and having a portion thereof exten ing downwardly and engaged with said drive pulley, a swinging vertical frame, means for suspending said vertical frame from said shaft, driving means on said vertical frame, and a connection between said driving means and said shaft to rotate the latter.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto ailixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

LAFAYETTE J. BROWN.

'itnesses MARY E. IIAMER, S. M. GALLAGHER. 

